Councilman H. Lamar Willis addresses disbarment, defends public service record

• Max Blau
• Councilman H. Lamar Willis stands outside City Hall

Atlanta City Councilman H. Lamar Willis insists that he'll push ahead for re-election despite losing his right to practice law in Georgia.

The councilman yesterday said he made a "grievous professional error" and would take responsibility for his ethics violations by accepting the Georgia Supreme Court's final findings, including orders for him to be disbarred.

Willis affirmed on City Hall's steps that he has "consistently and faithfully" represented Atlanta residents over the past 12 years. Flanked by nearly 40 supporters, including several dozen elderly men and women, some of whom donned yellow t-shirts and were shuttled from a nearby senior citizen's home to show support, he said the professional mistakes that he made as a lawyer haven't affected his work as a policymaker. Nor would they in the future.

"I'm a very different person today than I was two years ago," said Willis.

He also responded to calls from Andre Dickens, his Post 3 At-Large challenger, to step down from office. Willis said that his opponent had undergone similar troubles, including financial problems related to a business he owned, though the incumbent didn't delve into many specifics. Those remarks were along the lines of his attack late last Friday when he called out Dickens for his "blatant hypocrisy."

"Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," Willis said.

Willis' campaign staffer Lawrence Bell made it a point to tell reporters that Willis' presser would be kept short given that Atlanta City Council's meeting was still underway. It's worth noting that Willis didn't step foot into Council chambers until two hours after yesterday afternoon's meeting began. When he was there, he stayed out of sight to the side - missing a blistering attack from former state Rep. Ralph Long III, a Dickens supporter, during public remarks - and didn't sit for long in his usual Council chair.